Horses on roadways blamed for two crashes on area roadways

Two traffic crashes in as many days offer a reminder for motorists to watch out for animals on dark area roadways.

Both incidents involved horses that were seriously injured or killed, though no drivers were injured, said Lieutenant Gregg Hastings, a spokesman for Oregon State Police.

Here's what happened Wednesday in Southern Oregon.

Shortly after 7 a.m., a 40-year old Phoenix man was driving a 2014 Chevrolet sport utility vehicle southbound on Highway 199 near Reeves Creek Road just north of Kerby when he collided with horses standing in the roadway. The vehicle struck at least two horses, seriously wounding one.

The driver was unharmed.

Then early Thursday in rural Eugene, 43-year old Grants Pass man was behind the wheel of a 2006 Dodge pickup driven around 3:15 a.m. when he encountered several horses standing in the eastbound lane of Highway 58 near milepost 2. Unable to avoid the horses, the truck's driver crashed into at least two of them before the pickup came to rest on the side of the road.

Two of the injured horses were lying in the eastbound lanes when they were again struck, this time by a passing Peterbilt log truck driven by a 38-year old Eugene man.

Neither driver was injured but both vehicles sustained heavy damage.

The horses' owners were notified after both accidents and responded to the scenes.